Nueva Ecija Farmers Celebrate Income Surge with Government Rice Processing Systems
GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija – Approximately 1.2 million Filipino rice farmers across the country are now enjoying substantially higher earnings due to the operation of government-provided rice processing systems (RPS) and modern farm machinery, according to the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
Farmers Witness Dramatic Price Increases
In a series of interviews conducted on Friday, March 27, 2026, farmers in Nueva Ecija attested to how these state-of-the-art post-harvest facilities have enabled them to secure significantly better prices for their palay (unhusked rice).
Sally Rihad, a 58-year-old farmer with three decades of experience, praised the government for providing drying and milling facilities that have boosted her profits over the past two years.
"Before, when only agents were buying, fresh palay sold for just PHP14 to PHP15 per kilogram, sometimes dropping to PHP10 during the rainy season," she told the Integrated State Media (ISM). "Now it reaches PHP18 to PHP19 per kilogram, with the highest price currently at PHP26. This is truly a massive help for us."
Cooperative Manager Highlights Benefits
Nora Angeles, 53, general manager of the Bantug Agriculture Multipurpose Cooperative, similarly expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the advantages brought by the government-provided RPS.
"What the government gave us are truly beneficial. With the RPS operational, fresh palay prices now range from PHP22 to PHP27 per kilogram," Angeles explained. "When we purchase fresh palay at PHP26 to PHP27, we can sell dry palay at PHP32 to PHP35 per kilogram, depending on quality and variety."
She noted that before the RPS provision, fresh palay typically sold for only PHP14 to PHP18 per kilogram, while dry palay fetched PHP23 per kilogram.
"We buy palay from our farmer members at higher prices, process it into rice, and sell it across various regions of the Philippines," Angeles added, emphasizing the cooperative's expanded market reach.
Government Expands Reach of Modern Facilities
PhilMech Director Dionisio Alvindia announced that the agency is accelerating the construction and operation of additional RPS facilities to benefit more Filipino rice producers.
"The total beneficiaries of PhilMech now, including both RPS and machinery provisions, number around 1.2 million," he stated during the ISM interview.
Overall, more than 8,000 farmer cooperatives have gained access to these modern facilities and equipment, transforming their agricultural operations.
Currently, 64 out of 151 RPS units funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) are fully operational across 40 areas nationwide. Alvindia confirmed that the remaining 87 RPS units are scheduled for completion by June.
Comprehensive Support for Farmers
Beyond rice mills and drying facilities, PhilMech has been distributing a wide array of agricultural machinery, including tillers, tractors, seeders, threshers, and irrigation pumps.
This comprehensive initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure the welfare of local food producers while simultaneously advancing national food security and affordability goals.
The successful implementation of these programs demonstrates a significant step forward in modernizing Philippine agriculture and improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers who form the backbone of the country's food production system.
